Evaluation of Esophageal Varices Using Contrast-Enhanced Coded Harmonic Ultrasonography

[Guest guest]

From Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology

Evaluation of Esophageal Varices Using Contrast-Enhanced Coded Harmonic

Ultrasonography

Posted 05/05/2004

Masaya Tamano; Masashi Yoneda; Kazuo Kojima; Takashi Hashimoto; Toshimitsu

Murohisa; Yuichi Majima; Koji Kusano; Tetsuya Nakamura; Hitoshi Sugaya;

Akira Terano

Abstract and Introduction

Abstract

Aim: To investigate if esophageal varices can be evaluated using external

contrast-enhanced ultrasonography with Levovist and coded harmonic angio

(CHA).

Methods: Subjects were six healthy adult volunteers and 23 patients with

liver cirrhosis. After identification of the lower esophagus under B-mode

scanning, 300 mg/mL of Levovist was intravenously injected into the cubital

vein at a rate of 1 mL/s under observation by CHA-mode scanning.

Approximately 30 s after intravenous administration, interval-delay scanning

was performed every second to visualize the area around the lower esophageal

lumen. The degree of ultrasonographic enhancement was assessed as either no

enhancement (negative); linear enhancement along the esophageal wall (weak)

or full enhancement of the esophageal lumen (strong). Endoscopic evaluation

of esophageal varices was also performed.

Results: The CHA enhancement around the lower esophageal lumen was

identified in 21 of the 23 patients. Of these 21 patients, endoscopic

assessments of varices were as follows: F0 in four patients, F1 in seven

patients, F2 in three patients, and F3 in seven patients. Nine patients were

red color sign (RCS)-positive. Regarding the relationship between

ultrasonographic enhancement and endoscopic assessment, enhancement was

identified as negative in all four F0 patients, negative in three and weak

in three and strong in one of the seven F1 patients, weak in one and strong

in two of the three F2 patients, and weak in two and strong in five of the

seven F3 patients, respectively. Furthermore, of the nine RCS-positive

patients, enhancement was recognized as strong in seven and weak in two

patients. Ultrasonographic enhancement was identified as negative in all six

healthy volunteers.

Conclusions: By performing contrast-enhanced CHA ultrasonography using

Levovist, ultrasonographic enhancement was detectable in all patients with

varices categorized as F2 or above. Because the present method is easy to

perform and causes less pain to patients compared to endoscopy, it is useful

for following and assessing esophageal varices in patients with liver

cirrhosis.

FULL TEXT AT:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/474826?src=mp

[Guest guest]

From Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology

Evaluation of Esophageal Varices Using Contrast-Enhanced Coded Harmonic

Ultrasonography

Posted 05/05/2004

Masaya Tamano; Masashi Yoneda; Kazuo Kojima; Takashi Hashimoto; Toshimitsu

Murohisa; Yuichi Majima; Koji Kusano; Tetsuya Nakamura; Hitoshi Sugaya;

Akira Terano

Abstract and Introduction

Abstract

Aim: To investigate if esophageal varices can be evaluated using external

contrast-enhanced ultrasonography with Levovist and coded harmonic angio

(CHA).

Methods: Subjects were six healthy adult volunteers and 23 patients with

liver cirrhosis. After identification of the lower esophagus under B-mode

scanning, 300 mg/mL of Levovist was intravenously injected into the cubital

vein at a rate of 1 mL/s under observation by CHA-mode scanning.

Approximately 30 s after intravenous administration, interval-delay scanning

was performed every second to visualize the area around the lower esophageal

lumen. The degree of ultrasonographic enhancement was assessed as either no

enhancement (negative); linear enhancement along the esophageal wall (weak)

or full enhancement of the esophageal lumen (strong). Endoscopic evaluation

of esophageal varices was also performed.

Results: The CHA enhancement around the lower esophageal lumen was

identified in 21 of the 23 patients. Of these 21 patients, endoscopic

assessments of varices were as follows: F0 in four patients, F1 in seven

patients, F2 in three patients, and F3 in seven patients. Nine patients were

red color sign (RCS)-positive. Regarding the relationship between

ultrasonographic enhancement and endoscopic assessment, enhancement was

identified as negative in all four F0 patients, negative in three and weak

in three and strong in one of the seven F1 patients, weak in one and strong

in two of the three F2 patients, and weak in two and strong in five of the

seven F3 patients, respectively. Furthermore, of the nine RCS-positive

patients, enhancement was recognized as strong in seven and weak in two

patients. Ultrasonographic enhancement was identified as negative in all six

healthy volunteers.

Conclusions: By performing contrast-enhanced CHA ultrasonography using

Levovist, ultrasonographic enhancement was detectable in all patients with

varices categorized as F2 or above. Because the present method is easy to

perform and causes less pain to patients compared to endoscopy, it is useful

for following and assessing esophageal varices in patients with liver

cirrhosis.

FULL TEXT AT:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/474826?src=mp

[Guest guest]

From Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology

Evaluation of Esophageal Varices Using Contrast-Enhanced Coded Harmonic

Ultrasonography

Posted 05/05/2004

Masaya Tamano; Masashi Yoneda; Kazuo Kojima; Takashi Hashimoto; Toshimitsu

Murohisa; Yuichi Majima; Koji Kusano; Tetsuya Nakamura; Hitoshi Sugaya;

Akira Terano

Abstract and Introduction

Abstract

Aim: To investigate if esophageal varices can be evaluated using external

contrast-enhanced ultrasonography with Levovist and coded harmonic angio

(CHA).

Methods: Subjects were six healthy adult volunteers and 23 patients with

liver cirrhosis. After identification of the lower esophagus under B-mode

scanning, 300 mg/mL of Levovist was intravenously injected into the cubital

vein at a rate of 1 mL/s under observation by CHA-mode scanning.

Approximately 30 s after intravenous administration, interval-delay scanning

was performed every second to visualize the area around the lower esophageal

lumen. The degree of ultrasonographic enhancement was assessed as either no

enhancement (negative); linear enhancement along the esophageal wall (weak)

or full enhancement of the esophageal lumen (strong). Endoscopic evaluation

of esophageal varices was also performed.

Results: The CHA enhancement around the lower esophageal lumen was

identified in 21 of the 23 patients. Of these 21 patients, endoscopic

assessments of varices were as follows: F0 in four patients, F1 in seven

patients, F2 in three patients, and F3 in seven patients. Nine patients were

red color sign (RCS)-positive. Regarding the relationship between

ultrasonographic enhancement and endoscopic assessment, enhancement was

identified as negative in all four F0 patients, negative in three and weak

in three and strong in one of the seven F1 patients, weak in one and strong

in two of the three F2 patients, and weak in two and strong in five of the

seven F3 patients, respectively. Furthermore, of the nine RCS-positive

patients, enhancement was recognized as strong in seven and weak in two

patients. Ultrasonographic enhancement was identified as negative in all six

healthy volunteers.

Conclusions: By performing contrast-enhanced CHA ultrasonography using

Levovist, ultrasonographic enhancement was detectable in all patients with

varices categorized as F2 or above. Because the present method is easy to

perform and causes less pain to patients compared to endoscopy, it is useful

for following and assessing esophageal varices in patients with liver

cirrhosis.

FULL TEXT AT:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/474826?src=mp

[Guest guest]

From Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology

Evaluation of Esophageal Varices Using Contrast-Enhanced Coded Harmonic

Ultrasonography

Posted 05/05/2004

Masaya Tamano; Masashi Yoneda; Kazuo Kojima; Takashi Hashimoto; Toshimitsu

Murohisa; Yuichi Majima; Koji Kusano; Tetsuya Nakamura; Hitoshi Sugaya;

Akira Terano

Abstract and Introduction

Abstract

Aim: To investigate if esophageal varices can be evaluated using external

contrast-enhanced ultrasonography with Levovist and coded harmonic angio

(CHA).

Methods: Subjects were six healthy adult volunteers and 23 patients with

liver cirrhosis. After identification of the lower esophagus under B-mode

scanning, 300 mg/mL of Levovist was intravenously injected into the cubital

vein at a rate of 1 mL/s under observation by CHA-mode scanning.

Approximately 30 s after intravenous administration, interval-delay scanning

was performed every second to visualize the area around the lower esophageal

lumen. The degree of ultrasonographic enhancement was assessed as either no

enhancement (negative); linear enhancement along the esophageal wall (weak)

or full enhancement of the esophageal lumen (strong). Endoscopic evaluation

of esophageal varices was also performed.

Results: The CHA enhancement around the lower esophageal lumen was

identified in 21 of the 23 patients. Of these 21 patients, endoscopic

assessments of varices were as follows: F0 in four patients, F1 in seven

patients, F2 in three patients, and F3 in seven patients. Nine patients were

red color sign (RCS)-positive. Regarding the relationship between

ultrasonographic enhancement and endoscopic assessment, enhancement was

identified as negative in all four F0 patients, negative in three and weak

in three and strong in one of the seven F1 patients, weak in one and strong

in two of the three F2 patients, and weak in two and strong in five of the

seven F3 patients, respectively. Furthermore, of the nine RCS-positive

patients, enhancement was recognized as strong in seven and weak in two

patients. Ultrasonographic enhancement was identified as negative in all six

healthy volunteers.

Conclusions: By performing contrast-enhanced CHA ultrasonography using

Levovist, ultrasonographic enhancement was detectable in all patients with

varices categorized as F2 or above. Because the present method is easy to

perform and causes less pain to patients compared to endoscopy, it is useful

for following and assessing esophageal varices in patients with liver

cirrhosis.

FULL TEXT AT:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/474826?src=mp